Garlic
This important condiment crop has been held in high esteem for its health-building qualities for centuries all over the world. In herbal medicine, garlic has been traditionally used for numerous ailments. Babhet, an eminent Ayurvedic authority, is of the opinion that garlic is good for the heart, a food for the hair, a stimulant to appetite, a strengthening food, useful in leucoderma, leprosy, piles, worms, catarrhal disorders, asthma and cough.
Clinical experiments in recent times have confirmed several ancient ideas about healing value of this vegetable. These experiments have in fact shown much greater power of garlic than known previously. It lowers blood pressure, blood cholesterol, discourages blood clotting, fights cold and numerous other diseases, as well as helps prevent heart attacks. It contains multiple anti-cancer compounds and antioxidants. It also boosts immune system. Garlic is thus an all-round wonder drug, which builds up health, prevents and cures several ailments and prolongs life.
Ginseng
Ginseng is a wonder herb with outstanding medicinal properties. It has been used in China, Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asia since ancient times for its health-building properties. It has been credited with vitalizing and restorative power, thereby prolonging life.
Orient folk physicians have asserted that a plant is effective against ailments of that organ, which shape it resemble. Of all their healing plants and herbs, ginseng is the only one that is shaped like a man. The people in the Orient believed that ginseng was a prime source of all the elements that would help rebuild a man’s health and his powers of virility. Modern scientific studies on this herb found that it emits a mitogenetic ray, which is considered as an all-natural ultraviolet radiation.
Nature has put within ginseng a process of cellular proliferation via this mitogenetic emission. It is said that this all-natural cellular rejuvenation process stimulates the body’s own sluggish process and thereby promotes healing, cellular regeneration and longevity. Ginseng is available in the form of powder or capsules. The powder can be used as a tea or added to fruit and vegetable juices. However, the Chinese prefer to chew a portion of the root everyday.
Honey
Honey is one of the most splendid foods. It possesses unique nutritional and medicinal properties. It is an excellent source of heat and energy. Energy is generated mainly by the carbohydrate foods and honey is the most easily digested form of carbohydrate. It enters directly into the bloodstream because of its dextrin content and this provides almost instantaneous energy. Those with weak digestion especially benefit form its use.
Latest research indicates that the pollen in honey contains all 22 amino acids, 28 minerals, two enzymes, 14 fatty acids and 11 carbohydrates. It thus builds up health, Wards off several common aliments and prolongs life.
Indian Gooseberry
This fruit has been used as a valuable ingredient of various medicines in India and the Middle East since time immemorial. Shusrut, the great Ayurvedic authority, considers it as the best of all acid fruits and most useful in maintaining health and fighting disease. It contributes greatly towards good health and longevity. It is said that the great ancient sage Muni Chyawan rejuvenated himself in his late 70’s and regained his virility by the use of Indian gooseberry.
Indian gooseberry has revitalising effects. It contains an element, which is very valuable in preventing ageing and in maintaining strength in old age. It improves body resistance and protects against infection. It strengthens the heart, hair and different glands in the body. It thus contributes greatly towards health and longevity.
Lettuce
This popular salad plant is a live food with its rich vitamin and mineral content, especially the antiscorbutic vitamin C. It is rich in mineral salts with the alkaline elements greatly predominating. So it helps keep the blood clean, the mind alert and body in good health. Lettuce contains several health-building qualities and many medicinal virtues. It is very good for brain, nervous system and lungs. The raw juice of lettuce is cool and refreshing. The high content of magnesium in the juice has exceptional power to vitalise the muscular tissues, the nerves and the brain. This salad vegetable thus contributes greatly towards health and longevity.
Milk
Milk is one of the most common articles of food throughout the world. It occupies a unique position in the maintenance of health and healing of diseases. It is considered as ” Nature’s most nearly perfect food.” Milk is regarded as a complete food. It contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, all the known vitamins, various minerals and all the food ingredients considered essential for sustaining life and maintaining health. The protein of milk is of the highest biological value and it contains all the amino acids essential for body building and repair of body cells.
A litre of milk provides all the calcium needed by a person for one day, practically all the phosphorus, a liberal amount of vitamins A and C, one third or more of the protein, one eight or more of the iron, at least one fourth of the energy, and some of vitamins B, E and D. Milk ranks high in digestibility. Its fat is 99 per cent digestible, its protein 97 per cent, and its carbohydrates 98 per cent. Milk is said to require about one and half-hours for digestion. According to Charaka, the great author of the Indian system of medicine, milk increases strength, improves memory, removes exhaustion, maintains strength and promotes long life. Experiments conducted in modern times have amply corroborated this opinion of Charaka.